Clear "Application Data" permissions
- macOS onlyThis script improves your privacy on macOS
- Single actionThis page belongs to a script, containing basic changes to achieve a task.
- Impact: High
System Functionality / Data Loss Risk: High
This action improves privacy with high impact when you run the recommended script.
- Bash (Shell script)These changes use macOS system commands to update your settings.
- Administrative (sudo) access requiredThis script requires privilege access to do the system changes
- Fully reversible
You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using this website.
The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.
Overview
This script resets permissions for accessing application data 1. It revokes application access to specific application data, enhancing privacy and data security.
This script should only be used by advanced users.
This script is not recommended for daily use as it breaks important functionality.
Consider creating a Time Machine backup before doing any changes.
Sources
- PrivacyPreferencesPolicyControl.Services. Apple Developer Documentation. apple.com. (2023).
Original: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/devicemanagement/privacypreferencespolicycontrol/services
Archived: https://archive.ph/2023.11.24-170934/https://developer.apple.com/documentation/devicemanagement/privacypreferencespolicycontrol/services
Apply Now
Choose one of three ways to apply:
Help
How to apply or restore "Clear "Application Data" permissions" using script
- ≈ 3 min to complete
- Tools: Web Browser
- Difficulty: Medium
- ≈ 5 instructions
- 1
Download
Download the script file by clicking on the button above.
Use button above to restore changes. - 2
Keep the file
If warned by your browser, keep the file. - 3
Open
Open the downloaded file. - 4
Exit
Once it's done, press any key to exit the window. - 5
Restart
Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.
Apply with privacy.sexy
Guided, automated application with safety checks- Recommended for most users
- Includes safety checks
- Free
- Open-source
- Popular
- Offline/Online usage
Help
How to apply or restore "Clear "Application Data" permissions" using privacy.sexy
- ≈ 3 min to complete
- Tools: privacy.sexy
- Difficulty: Simple
- ≈ 4 instructions
- 2
Choose script
- Search for the script name: Clear "Application Data" permissions
- Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
- 3
Run
Click on ▶️ Run button at the bottom of the page.This button only appears on desktop version (recommended). On browser, use 💾 Save button.
- Apply
- Revert
if ! command -v 'tccutil' &> /dev/null; then
echo 'Skipping because "tccutil" is not found.'
else
declare serviceId='SystemPolicyAppData'
declare reset_output reset_exit_code
{
reset_output=$(tccutil reset "$serviceId" 2>&1)
reset_exit_code=$?
}
if [ $reset_exit_code -eq 0 ]; then
echo "Successfully reset permissions for \"${serviceId}\"."
elif [ $reset_exit_code -eq 70 ]; then
echo "Skipping, service ID \"${serviceId}\" is not supported on your operating system version."
elif [ $reset_exit_code -ne 0 ]; then
>&2 echo "Failed to reset permissions for \"${serviceId}\". Exit code: $reset_exit_code."
if [ -n "$reset_output" ]; then
echo "Output from \`tccutil\`: $reset_output."
fi
fi
fi
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Help
How to apply or restore "Clear "Application Data" permissions" using commands
- ≈ 2 min to complete
- Tools: Terminal app
- Difficulty: undefined
- ≈ 3 instructions
- 1
Open terminal
Open Terminal app. - 2
Copy code
Copy the code: - 3
Paste & run
Paste the code into Terminal and press Enter to run.Some changes require a system restart to take effect
Similar Guides
Wider Goal
Guides below includes this guide to achieve a wider goal.See other more general settings that includes this one as one of its actions.
These plans combine multiple privacy settings, including this one, for stronger protection.
- Clear application privacy permissions
- Privacy cleanup
This category provides scripts to reset privacy permissions for a variety of applications on your device, helping you to re-establish control over your personal da...
This specification: privacy cleanup — lays out a systematic approach to how to lock down private information as part of sensitive data privacy protection on macOS...
Same Goal
Other guides in Clear application privacy permissionsSee settings that are in the same category as this guide.
Using other actions in the same category may help you achieve your goal better.
See all 23 guides
About the Creators
These people have authored this documentation and written its scripts:
undergroundwires- Certified security professional
- 7+ years experience securing banks
- Open-source developer since 2005
- EU advisor, Public Speaker, Moderator
- Open-Source Contributors
- Hundreds across the globe
- Testers, reviewers, developers
- Companies, military agencies
- Community since 2017
Reviewed By
This guide has undergone comprehensive auditing and peer review:Expert review by undergroundwires
- Verified technical accuracy and editorial standards
- Assessed system impact and user privacy risks
Public review by large community
- Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
- Millions of end-users tested across different environments
History
We continually monitor our guides, their impact and all other privacy options. We update our guides when new information becomes available. On every update, we publicly store who made the change, what has been changed, why the change was made and when the change was made.